Articles and news about mental health issues

8.3M US Adults Had Serious Thoughts Of Committing Suicide

Below is an article that addresses a growing problem in our mental health communities. Suicide prevention has become the number one issue in psychiatric facilities, partially because of the “imminent danger” issue of mental health commitments and partially because of the rise in the rate of those planning or thinking about ending their lives due to stressors viewed as “out of their control” such as financial, family, parenting, employment stresses.

Another factor that is fueling this growing trend is the number of children and adolescents who, for whatever reason, seem to see suicide as the “only way out” of current distress. For some reason, we are not building any resilience into our youths and they are suffering the consequences.

When you read this article, think about all the people you hear daily talking about “killing myself” as a response to overwhelming stress. I think you may be surprised at the results you come to.

This is a pervasive problem that needs to be addressed, and I am really excited to see a study that supports the anecdotal information of nurses working in this field.

Let me know what you think, or let me know what the results of your study are won’t you?

Nearly 8.3 million adults (age 18 and older) in the U.S. (3.7 percent) had serious thoughts of committing suicide in the past year according to the first national scientific survey of its size on this public health problem. The study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also shows that 2.3 million adult Americans made a suicide plan in the past year and that 1.1 million adults – 0.5 percent of all adult Americans – had actually attempted suicide in the past year.

The study provides important insights into the nature and scope of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. For example, the risk of suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts varies significantly among age groups. Young adults aged 18 to 25 were far more likely to have seriously considered suicide in the past year than those aged 26 to 49 (6.7 percent versus 3.9 percent), and nearly three times more likely than those aged 50 or older (2.3 percent). These disparities in risk levels among younger and older adults also were found in suicide planning and suicide attempts.

Substance use disorders also were associated with an increase in the risk of seriously considering, planning or attempting suicide. People experiencing substance abuse disorders within the past year were more than three times as likely to have seriously considered committing suicide as those who had not experienced a substance abuse disorder (11.0 percent versus 3.0 percent). Those with past year substance abuse disorders were also 4 times more likely to have planned a suicide than those without substance abuse disorders (3.4 percent versus 0.8 percent), and nearly seven times more likely to have attempted suicide (2.0 percent versus 0.3 percent).

The study also revealed that adult females had marginally higher levels of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than males in the past year.

“This study offers a far greater understanding of just how pervasive the risk of suicide is in our nation and how many of us are potentially affected by it,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator, Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. “While there are places that people in crisis can turn to for help like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK, the magnitude of the public health crisis revealed by this study should motivate us as a nation to do everything possible to reach out and help the millions who are at risk — preferably well before they are in immediate danger.”

The study notes that only 62.3 percent of adults who had attempted suicide in the past year received medical attention for their suicide attempts. It also notes that 46.0 percent of those attempting suicide stayed in a hospital overnight or longer for treatment of their suicide attempts.

From the author

As a psychiatric nurse for the last 20 years, I have seen many changes in the way we, as a population, view and respond to those we deem "mentally ill".
I know that anyone, anywhere can be affected by mental illness, just like anyone, anywhere can become diabetic. I know that we need to treat these people as we, ourselves, would want to be treated.
Mental illness is real and it affects numerous homes and families around the world. We need to see the mentally ill as real people with a serious, chronic illness that needs ongoing treatment and care. We owe it to all of those families to provide it and to give them solace from the sometimes frightening events faced by the mental patient out in our communities.

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